Bob Livingston

Bob Livingston is a public square dance caller who uses the “Eastern Singing Style” of calling, a distinctive New England form with dances called in phrase to American fiddle tunes. He learned this calling tradition over fifteen years by attending dances, listening to established callers such as Doug Wilkins, and occasionally stepping in to call. Only when in his 40's did Bob begin to call a complete four-hour dance himself. From 1987 to the 2020s, he called the community dances in Bernardston, Massachusetts, with music provided by the Year 4 apprentices who played with the Falltown String Band. Public or community square dances, which are different from contra dances, are open to anyone to attend so all ages can participate. The caller serves an important role here, because he or she has to guide both novices and experienced dancers through the steps, and sometimes has to “untangle” formations. Singing-calling depends a lot on the rhythms and timing of the live music too, and the caller has to know the movements of the dances. Bob can call French Canadian quadrilles that are popular in eastern Connecticut and Rhode Island, as well as Virginia Reel and circle formations. He always calls to a live band, and tailors his calling to the type of dance as well as the level of the dancers.

Bob has appeared regularly at the monthly Killingly Grange community dance. He worked with Mansfield Middle School string musicians to teach students and parents, and call their Country Dance Nights. He conducted two camp residencies in Brooklyn, Connecticut and Whately, Massachusetts, and has called at YMCA Camp Hazen in Chester, Connecticut. Other experiences include being caller, leader, and teacher for a 4-H square dance club formed to conclude a season of meetings by demonstrating at the Durham (CT) Fair; church social events; home school family groups; weddings; library programs; town celebrations such as Old Home Days in Halifax, Vermont, and barn dances in two new Amish barns built in Franklin, Connecticut (the Blue Slope Museum) and Woodstock, Connecticut. Bob is a regular caller for the Cornwall, Connecticut community dances organized by fiddler Rachel Gall from the Year 9 (2006-2007) apprenticeship in northwestern Connecticut folk music.